[TheForge] was Shop Communications now greatest invention

[Bruce Freeman]

Breaking rocks into sharp tools was the first and greatest invention
of mankind, inclusive of all species thereof.  It probably antedated
firemaking, though possibly not fire use.

We all know OF flint-knapping, but if you haven't read up on it you
won't appreciate how advanced an art it was.  But the mere breaking of
rocks deliberately to achieve a sharp edge was a real step for 2-pint
brains.  I know some two-pint brains who would never be able to figure
it out themselves!

Neat thing about rock breaking is that you don't need flint.  Most any
rock not to hard (like quartzite), not to coarse (like sandstone),
will give a decent edge, much better than human teeth or fingernails.

Flintknapping was the ultimate development of the idea, taking
millenia to achieve.

Bruce
NJ

On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 9:28 AM, Andy Gladish <gladish at cablerocket.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:19:45 -0800, Jerry Frost <akfrosty at mtaonline.net>
>  wrote:
>
>
>  > She did remember the last indian "raid" in the Ohios though it was 5-6
>  > young bucks who got drunk and rode through town yelling and knocking
>  > things over. No scalps were hurt in the making of the raid.
>
>  Yeah, we actually did a lot of that in the 70s where I grew up in
>  Michigan. Most of my buddies were Indians. Cars, though, not horses.
>  Andy G.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>  Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>  theforge mail list group photo site is
>  http://www.photoaccess.com
>  Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>  password:  anvil
>  ___________
>
>
>



-- 
Bruce
NJ